Forget ‘Anything’: Trans TV shows and movies to get hyped for in 2018
Last week saw the release of Timothy McNeil’s Anything – a controversial drama based on the director’s play of the same name, about a heartbroken widower who moves to Hollywood where he meets and falls for his charming neighbor, a trans sex worker named Freda. Heavily debated before the picture even hit the screen, it wasn’t just the storyline that got people talking – it was McNeill’s decision to cast cisgender actor Matt Bomer (The Normal Heart) for the role of Freda. Faced with criticism from the LGBTQI community and beyond, the critics are now citing the same issue. IndieWire’s review noted how Bomer’s swishy transgender caricature completely distracts from his performance. “It’s a double shame, as the story of a widower who moves to Hollywood after a suicide attempt is told with enough warmth and precision that Anything might have been a halfway decent movie with a transgender actress in the role.” Whether you agree with the opinion or you think Bomer is a good choice for the role, we think there are plenty of other upcoming films and TV shows featuring trans stories that are far more deserving of your time. Here are FD’s picks of the top trans movies and shows to look forward to in 2018:
Venus
Directed by Eisha Marjara, Venus stars Debargo Sanyal as a transitioning Indo-Canadian woman who discovers she is the father of a 14-year-old boy. The 2017 Canadian film offered a quiet, character-driven look at family and identity that stood apart from the more sensationalized releases of its moment. Its focus on an everyday trans experience gave audiences a grounded alternative to the headlines that surrounded Anything.
Recent Trans TV Representation Trends
GLAAD’s Where We Are on TV report for 2024-2025 counted 33 transgender characters across 23 shows. That marked an increase of five characters and two percentage points from the prior season. The breakdown showed 24 trans women, 7 trans men, and 2 nonbinary characters. These numbers reflect a slow but measurable expansion in visibility since the late 2010s, when the conversation around Anything highlighted how few authentic portrayals existed on screen.
High-Profile Trans Talent in 2026 Projects
Tom Ford’s adaptation of Anne Rice’s Cry to Heaven is set to feature trans actresses Hunter Schafer and Lux Pascal in key roles. The project signals a shift in how major directors approach historical stories with trans elements. Industry observers note that casting trans performers in these parts marks a departure from earlier practices that often sidelined them from prestige adaptations.
Trans Stories in Global Media
Squid Game season 2 introduced a prominent transfeminine character, Cho Hyun-ju, to one of the largest streaming audiences worldwide. The casting drew some debate, yet the character reached viewers on a scale few domestic productions achieve. Global hits like this demonstrate how trans narratives can travel beyond niche markets when platforms invest in them.
Challenges in Sustained Representation
GLAAD data also shows that 61 percent of the 2024-2025 trans characters are not returning for the 2026 season. The broader LGBTQ+ character non-return rate sits at 41 percent. These attrition figures point to an ongoing gap between initial casting announcements and long-term commitment from studios and showrunners.
The conversation that began with Anything’s casting controversy continues to shape how projects are greenlit and received. Recent seasons have delivered more trans characters and higher-profile talent, yet the numbers still show how easily gains can slip away when production pipelines reset. Viewers tracking these shifts now have a wider set of examples to follow, from intimate Canadian dramas like Venus to large-scale international series and upcoming prestige films. The landscape has moved past 2018’s forward-looking list, but the demand for stories told with care and authenticity remains the same.
